PA Rep. Brian Sims apologizes…to Planned Parenthood

Pennsylvania State Representative Brian Sims issued a semi-apology for his obnoxious behavior in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic last week. He posted his statement on Twitter.

“I’ve received a lot of feedback about a video I posted last week,” Sims said. He’s talking about the video I posted here of him harassing an elderly woman for nearly nine minutes.

Sims says he’s lived across the street from this clinic in PA for 15 years and adds that he’s been a “patient escort” at this Planned Parenthood for the past seven years. During that time he says he’s seen insults, slurs, and attacks aimed at women coming to the clinic. Of course, he doesn’t offer any video of that. More importantly, he doesn’t offer any evidence that’s what the women he attacked in two separate videos were doing.

Then he gets to the non-apology: “As a Planned Parenthood volunteer and as a supporter, I fully understand, respect, and appreciate the non-engagement policy that they have.” He continues, “And I would never want to do anything that interfered with the care that they are providing to their patients. As an activist and an advocate I know why pushing back against harassment and discrimination are a must even when they’re uncomfortable but last week I wasn’t a patient escort. I was a neighbor and a concerned citizen and I was aggressive.

“I know that two wrongs don’t make a right and I can do better and I will do better for the men and women of Pennsylvania.”

So I guess berating an elderly woman in the street for nine minutes isn’t a good look after all. Who would have guessed? But you’ll notice this statement is heavy on self-serving justification and light on “I’m sorry.” In fact, Sims doesn’t apologize to the woman he attacked at all. And he doesn’t even mention the three teens he tried to dox in an earlier video in front of the same clinic. Maybe he’s hoping most people haven’t seen that one yet?

The closest he gets to taking responsibility is saying “two wrongs don’t make a right” which at least implies that he was wrong. And the closest he gets to an apology is saying he wouldn’t want to interfere with all the wonderful work happening at the clinic by violating Planned Parenthood’s “non-engagement policy.” In other words, ‘Hey, sorry for flipping out like that in front of your clinic.’ He’s sorry to Planned Parenthood, not to the women he berated and accused of being racists.

On two occasions that we know about, Sims flipped out at people who were doing nothing but walking and praying. He was the aggressor, not the people he singled out for abuse. He ought to actually apologize to the people he attacked instead of insinuating that they somehow deserved it for something he saw someone else do some other time.

Really, Pennsylvania, is this the best you can do for elected representatives? I know times are tough but surely you can find a few Democrats who scream at teens and grandmas in the street. It’s a really low bar but one that Rep. Brian Sims clearly can’t get over.

I will fiercely protect a woman’s right to make the best choices for her health & her body, unimpeded. I also know that two wrongs don’t make a right, especially on the front lines of a civil rights battle. I can do better, and I will do better, for the women of Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/jURL1UX9qE